Exercise machine with device for handling on wheels

ABSTRACT

The present industrial invention refers to an exercise machine provided with a device for handling on wheels mounted under the machine platform and comprising a wheel supported at the end of an arm that oscillates freely on the vertical plane, which spontaneously tends to descend and remain in lowered position by means of a retention mechanism actuated by a spring and deactivated by a pedal.

The present patent application refers to an exercise machine with devicefor handling on wheels.

The purpose of the present invention is to find a solution to theproblem faced when an exercise machine, with suitable dimensions andweight to be lifted manually by one operator, must be temporarily movedfrom its working position.

As it is known to users of body-building machines, the structure of someexercise machines comprises one or more ground platforms that supportthe bearing frame of the exercise machine.

Reference is made to exercise machines such as stationary bicycles orspinning bicycles, step machines or treadmills. Although they are mainlyused in public gyms, these machines are more and more used in homeenvironments, thanks to their compact size that allows to place them inlarge rooms, such as bathrooms or bedrooms.

These machines are quite compact in size and relatively light in weight,and may be moved manually by one or maximum two operators.

In view of the above, manufacturers have decided to provide this kind ofexercise machines with wheels to allow the operator to move them aroundwithout great effort.

A similar device is, for example, provided for in spinning bicycles, inview of the fact that many gyms do not have a dedicated room forspinning lessons, and group sessions are usually held in large roomsthat are normally used for aerobics or gymnastics.

In view of the above, when lessons are over, spinning bicycles must bemoved from the centre of the room and parked one next to the other nextto the walls. They will be moved and arranged in their working positionbefore the next lesson begins.

Apart from the organisation of spinning sessions, exercise machines needto be moved for very different reasons, both in gyms and at home, forexample for cleaning, space organization and use.

As mentioned earlier, based on the aforementioned considerations, thiskind of exercise machines is normally provided with wheels with fixedaxis under the ground platforms, so that the operator can manually movethe machine by lifting the opposite side with respect to the wheels andpushing it in the desired direction, while maintaining the machinelifted during handling.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the need for theoperator to maintain the machine lifted during handling, thanks to thepresence of a new, original device mounted in opposite position withrespect to the wheels with fixed axis.

The device comprises a pivot wheel supported at the end of an arm thatoscillates freely on the vertical plane and can be placed in two stablepositions at the stop limit that correspond to working and idleposition, respectively.

More precisely, when the machine is lifted from the ground, the arm islowered spontaneously because of gravity and remains permanently inlowered position because of a retention mechanism with a spring. Thismeans that when the operator has lifted the machine, the machine isslightly lifted and tilted forward, using the pivot wheel as the onlysupport point in the back.

Assuming that because of the slightly forward inclination the frontwheels of the machine touch the ground (if necessary), it appearsevident that the exercise machine touches the ground with the wheelsonly, thus allowing the operator to push the machine and move it, withgood manoeuvring capabilities thanks to the pivot wheel.

Moreover, the device of the invention is provided with a pedal that canbe pressed to eliminate the action of the retention mechanism, thusallowing the oscillating arm to raise under the weight of the machine onthe pivot wheel located at the end of the arm.

For major clarity the description of the machine according to thepresent invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings,which are intended for purposes of illustration only and not in alimiting sense, showing a spinning bicycle according to the invention asan example:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the machine of the invention, which issupported and moved by means of wheels;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the machine of the invention in workingcondition, with platforms on the ground;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the machine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device mounted on the machine of theinvention in working condition, that is to say with pivot wheel inlowered position;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a top and side view of FIG. 5, respectively;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the device mounted on the machine of theinvention in idle condition, that is to say with pivoting wheel inraised position;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a top and side view of FIG. 8, respectively.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the machine of theinvention (1) is provided with a standing platform (2) with front andback feet (3).

In the case of the bicycle shown in the figures, the platform (2) isdivided into two platforms—a front and a back platform—and containswheels (4) with fixed axis located next to the front edge of theplatform (2) before the feet (3), having a suitable height to preventthe wheels (4) from touching the ground, so that the machine (1) standson the front and back feet (3) when the machine (1) is in working orparking position.

The presence and location of the wheels (4) permit to move the machine(1) on the wheels (4), just like a wheelbarrow, after lifting theplatform (2) on the opposite side with respect to the wheels (4) todetach the feet (3) from the ground and let the front wheels (4) touch.

The machine of the invention is characterised by the fact that it isprovided with a device (6) located on the platform (2) in oppositeposition with respect to the wheels (4), with the possibility of holdingthe machine (1) slightly raised and with the wheels (4) in contact withthe ground.

The device (6) incorporates a wheel (7) that is the only support pointof the machine (1) in the back when the machine (1) is held in raisedposition by the device (6).

More precisely, the wheel (7) is supported at the end of an oscillatingarm (8) that is pivoted at the other end on a pin (9) with horizontalaxis fixed to the platform (2), in such a way that the arm (8)oscillates freely on the vertical plane under the platform (2).

The arm (8) has a shelf-like configuration with lowered central housing(8 a) and a lateral transversal ramp (8 b) in lateral position that endsimmediately before the housing (8 a).

The ramp (8 b) and the housing (8 a) act as slide and stop for a bearing(10 a) supported at the end of a rod (10), which is provided at theother end with a collar (10 b) for pivoting at a bearing pin withvertical axis fixed to the platform (2), in such a way that the rod (10)freely oscillates on the horizontal plane under the platform (2).

The rod (10) is constantly subject to the action of a return spring (11)that tends to make the bearing (10 a) raise onto the ramp (8 b) until itengages in the housing (8 a).

The device (6) also comprises a pedal (12) that, when pressed, bringsthe rod (10) back, thus overcoming the action of the return spring (11)to remove the bearing (10 a) from the housing (8 a) and move it down theramp (8 b).

The pedal (12) is pivoted onto the platform (2) and connected by meansof a connecting-rod (13) to a cylindrical support (14) that is insertedand slides inside a support and guide bush (15) fixed under the platform(2) with longitudinal axis in horizontal position perpendicular to theaxis of the arm (8). When the bearing (10 a) is inside the housing (8a), the support (14) is in the maximum backward position, whichcorresponds to lifting the pedal above the platform (2), as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

In this condition the machine (1) stands on the front wheels (4) and onthe back wheel (7) and can therefore be moved by simply pushing it.

If the pedal (12) is pressed downwards, it actuates the support (14)that pushes the rod (10) backwards, in spite of the resistance offeredby the return spring (11), thus transferring the bearing (10 a) to theside of the arm (8), which is now free to move upwards, letting theplatform (2) go down and the feet (3) touch the ground.

Once the feet (3) touch the ground, the arm (8) goes back to the maximumlifting position, so that the bearing (10 a) is forced to remain stillon the side of the arm (8), until the arm (8) makes a new descendingtravel because the machine (1) is lifted from the opposite side withrespect to the wheels (4), that is to say from the side where the device(6) is mounted.

Although reference is made to exercise machines, preferably with limitedweight and size, the invention can be advantageously used for heavyexercise machines that are usually lifted by means of traditionallifting devices, such as hoists or forklift trucks.

In these cases the exercise machine could be provided with one or moredevices (6).

1. Exercise machine with device for handling on wheels, of the typecomprising at least a ground platform (2) provided with front and backfeet (3) and wheels (4) with fixed axis located next to the front edgeof the platform (2) before the feet (3), having a suitable height toprevent the wheels (4) from touching the ground, machine (1)characterised by the fact that it is equipped with at least one device(6) mounted under the platform (2) in opposite position with respect tothe wheels (4), which comprises a wheel (7) supported at the end of anarm (8) that oscillates freely on a vertical plane, spontaneously tendsto descend and is blocked in lowered position by means of a retentionmechanism (10, 10 a) actuated by a return spring (11) and deactivated bymeans of a pedal (12) pivoted onto the platform (2); it being providedthat when the retention mechanism is activated, the machine (1) israised from the ground and tilted forward so that the feet (3) losecontact with the ground and the wheels (4 and 7) touch the ground. 2.Machine as defined in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the arm(8) has a shelf-like configuration with a central lowered housing (8 a)and a lateral transversal ramp (8 b) immediately before the housing (8a); with the ramp (8 b) and the housing (8 a) acting as slide and stopfor a bearing (10 a) supported at the end of a rod (10) which isprovided at the other end with a collar (10 b) for pivoting at a bearingpin with vertical axis fixed to the platform (2), in such a way that therod (10) freely oscillates on the horizontal plane under the platform(2); it being provided that the rod (10) is constantly subject to theaction of the return spring (11), which tends to raise the bearing (10a) onto the ramp (8 b) until it engages inside the housing (8 a). 3.Machine as defined in claim 2, characterised by the fact that the device(6) also comprises a pedal (12) pivoted onto the platform (2) andconnected by means of a connecting rod (13) to a cylindrical support(14) in contrast with the rod (10), which slides inside a support andguide bush (15) fixed under the platform (2) with longitudinal axis inhorizontal position perpendicular the axis of the arm (8).
 4. Machine asdefined in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the wheel (7) is apivot wheel.